We are planning on flying to Cairns mid 2000 with our two daughters (9 & 12)- have never stayed in resorty place with Kids club etc but thought might be fun - Dunk Is sounds good - or maybe Raddison Reef resort - any ideas? We like swimming, tennis, walking but mainly want a relaxing holiday where the girls can meet some other kids too. <BR>Tx kate

HI KATE, I SPENT SOME TIME IN AUZ 97-97. WE TOOK A TRIP TO PT DOUGLAS . FOR, 4 DAYS. IF YOU LITMET YOURSEVELS TO AN ISLAND YOU MAY FIND THAT YOUR KIDS RUN OUT OF THINGS TO DO. PT.DOUG. IS A JUMP OFF TO THE REEF ( GO ON ONE OF THE QUICKSILVER TOURS) THE RAIN FOREST AND MOST OF THE RESORTS HAVE THINGS TO KEEP THE YOUNG'UNS OCCUPIED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. BE CAREFUL AS TO WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR YOU BOOK,IF YOU WANT TO BE IN THE WATER, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THERE WHEN THE BOX JELLYFISH ARE IN. I COULD LOOK UP THE PLACES WE STAYED , BUT ANY OF THOSE PLACES ARE GOOD...YOU,YOUR MATE AND KIDS WILL LOVE AUZ....

Kate, we spent a week at Port Douglas this October. Haven't been to Dunk Island but have visited similar islands. I think you're much better off staying on the mainland. There is much more variety of things to do and it will be much cheaper for eating out, shopping, etc. At Port Douglas, you're right on a great beach, the outer reef is just an hour away by boat and you can take day tours to places like Mossman Gorge, Daintree River, Cape Tribulation and the Atherton Tableland. <BR>Raddison Reef looks pretty good but it is a fair walk (or local bus) into the town proper (4-5 kms). There are loads of excellent apartments in or near the town, although they wont have the same facilities for kids as the Radisson. <BR>The middle of the year is a good time to go, but beware the first 2 weeks of July (local school holidays).

I stayed at the Radisson and Mirage in Port Douglas last year. Both are nice resorts for families. The Mirage is pretty upscale and a good value given the weak Aussie dollar against the US dollar. Port Douglas is a great jumping off point for various activities. I would definitely recommend staying on the mainland. Make sure you take a small boat out to the reefs, the large ones looked like quite a hassle to me. I would also recommend a small tour company to the rainforest and also the tram ride over the rainforest (I forgot the name of it). There was also a cool Croc farm near Port Douglas that was really neat. They filmed The Thin Red Line around Port Douglas btw. <BR> <BR>Have Fun.

want to go to Australia Jan/Feb. for 3 wks or more.Warm beach,swimming, <BR>reasonable hotel w/pool and at least coffee shop, close to town,young retiree from British Columbia, Canada. Interested in plants, culture, lively and fun places to eat. Reasonably adventuresome. Trying to keep cost down.

I WONDERED WHAT SEASON IS THERE JELLYFISH? WE WANT TO GO ON A CRUISE FOR 4-5DAYS DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR A CRUISE IN GREAT BARRIER REEF.

Merry, <BR> <BR>Marine Stingers are found on the North Queensland coast from about November to April. However, they stay close to the coast and are not out on the Barrier Reef. Some places like Port Douglas have protected swimming enclosures. <BR> <BR>Sorry, can't help with cruises, however can highly recommend the day trips to the Reef from Port Douglas.